SIHH 2014: Richard Mille Goes Poetic – RM 63-01 Dizzy Hours

RM 63-01 Dizzy Hours timepiece stands out among the novelties that Richard Mille introduced at the recently held Salon de International de Haute Horlegerie in Geneva, as well as among the entirety of the brand’s watches. Unlike the vast majority of Richard Mille pieces whose designs are driven by modernity and which include a multitude of additional features, new automatic RM 63-01 Dizzy Hands timepiece is presented with only a time-keeping feature and a single odd complication. The feature is poetical in its nature and based on the starting lines of the 19th century poem The Times by the French artist de Narval. When activated, it moves the transparent dial anti-clockwise, while the hour hand continues revolving in the opposite direction at a different speed. Richard Mille RM 63-01 has a body made of outer segments from 18 K red gold and the inner one in titanium. Its list price is set at $120,000.

Richard Mille RM 63-01 Dizzy Hours Watch

Similarity to Hermes Temps Suspendu Concept

When the initial inspiration is concerned, the new timepiece by Richard Mille is very much unlike the other pieces in the brand’s palette of products. As the company’s representatives explain, the idea for the watch stems from the work of the French romantic poet, Gerard de Narval, or to be exact, from his poem which starts with the lines: “Time does not surprise the wise, but the wise laughs, as only he knows how to use it. “ The poetic notion of time was utilized to create an uncommon feature which can be compared to the one featured in prize-winning Temps Suspendu piece by Hermes. The complication that gave the name “Dizzy Hands” is activated by a pusher which is placed inside the crown. After the pusher is pressed, the sapphire hour disc of the dial starts rotating clockwise. At the same time, the hour hand keeps revolving in its usual direction at an accelerated pace. As the revolutions in opposing directions continue like some sort of a strange dance, time is expressed in a whole new and original manner. If the wearer wishes to get back to the traditional representation of time, another simple press of the pusher which activated the complication will suffice.

Richard Mille RM 63-01 Dizzy Hours Watch Back

Interestingly, the new “Dizzy Hands” feature is based on the functioning of a traditional chronograph. Its activation, as well as the subsequent rotation of the hour hand and a sapphire hour disc are caused by a column-wheel placed at the one o’clock position. On the other hand, the return to original position is actuated by a hammer placed at the three o’clock place.

Richard Mille DNA Visible throughout CRMA3 Automatic Caliber

Despite of not being focused on modernity, RM 63-01 Dizzy Hand timepiece still possesses a visible DNA of the brand in its construction, embodied in the common complex technical solutions which Richard Mille tends to use, as well as in the application of modern materials. It runs on self-winding mechanical CRMA3 movement with 36 jewels. The caliber is made with a base-plate and bridges made of titanium and additionally treated with a PVD coating. It has 31 mm in diameter and it is precisely 6.675 mm high. Moreover, CRMA3 possesses a free sprung balance with variable inertia. This design enables better shock protection, easier servicing and more accuracy. By the way, the frequency of the regulating organ of the movement with AK3 balance spring is 28,800 vph, whereas additional resilience is secured with the addition of Incabloc 908.22.211.100 shock protection system. Just like all of the movements by the Swiss brand from Les Breuleux, CRMA3 caliber incorporates typical Richard Mille advanced engineering solutions such as: a fast rotating barrel (for better precision and reserve/performance ratio), a going train with the wheels at a 20 degrees pressure angle (for better transmission of torque to the caliber’s balance wheel), as well as flat-head screws with 6 holed heads and spline screws in grade 5 titanium. It should be said that the self-winding system with the mentioned barrel with the reduced period of rotation is wound by a bi-directional 18 K red gold rotor with Celtic design and that it stores 50 hours of power reserve. As it is the case with all Richard Mille calibers, CRMA3 is embellished with a plethora of different finishes and decorations. The movement displays microblasted anglage, milled sections and electroplasma coating; its steel components are satinized, with manually polished and burnished sections; wheels are chamfered, diamond-polished, rhodium-plated, with circular-finished faces etc.

Gold and Titanium Case with a New Bezel

When it comes to the construction of the case, it likewise demonstrates the typical Richard Mille approach even though it is a bit different than the rest of the housings by the same brand. This refers to the curved and round bezel at the front. The housing is medium-sized with the width set at 42.7 mm and the thickness of 11.7 mm. It is secured with 16 spline screws in titanium and steel and abrasion-resistant steel washers and made from the combination of two materials. The front and the rear sections are constructed of 18 K red gold, while the central segment is titanium. Furthermore, it includes a red gold crown which is made with O-ring seal and a collar made of high-tech Alcryn material.

Richard Mille RM 63-01 Dizzy Hours Watch Side

Richard Mille RM63-01 Dizzy Hands timepiece has sapphire crystals on both case sides. On the front side, doubly glare-proofed crystal is 1 mm thick and with the thickness of 1,800 Vickers. Beneath the sapphire crystal, there is a flange made of carbon nano-fiber and a skeletonized 0.4 mm thick sapphire dial with double glare-proofed coating. The entire construction of the housing guarantees just the basic water resistance to 30 meters.

Unlike the majority of timepiece presented at the SIHH 2014, Richard Mille RM 63-01 is series-produced. Still, its availability will be restricted with the high price of around $120,000.